System and method for providing user interface functionality based on location

• US 7,532,965 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2006
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Robillard, James P., Sims, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/338,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20060206242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A system for providing user interface functionality based on a location of a vehicle including a first vehicle electronic system and a second vehicle electronic system includes a user interface having at least one configurable input device, the user interface coupled to the first vehicle electronic system and the second vehicle electronic system, a control circuit coupled to the user interface and configured to determine a functionality of the at least one configurable input device, a navigation data source coupled to the control circuit and configured to provide location data for the vehicle and a memory coupled to the control circuit and the navigation data source, the memory configured to store location data associated with the first vehicle electronic system, wherein the control circuit determines the functionality of the at least one configurable input device based on the location of the vehicle and the location associated with the first vehicle electronic system.

Claims

1. A system for providing user interface functionality based on a location of a vehicle, the vehicle including a first vehicle electronic system and a second vehicle electronic system, the system comprising:

a user interface having at least one configurable input device, the user interface coupled to the first vehicle electronic system and the second vehicle electronic system;

a control circuit coupled to the user interface and configured to determine a functionality of the at least one configurable input device;

a navigation data source coupled to the control circuit and configured to provide location data for the vehicle; and

a memory coupled to the control circuit and the navigation data source, the memory configured to store location data associated with the first vehicle electronic system;

wherein the control circuit determines the functionality of the at least one configurable input device based on the location of the vehicle and the location associated with the first vehicle electronic system.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first vehicle electronic system is at least one of a trainable transceiver and a system configured to transmit a radio frequency control signal for actuating a garage door opener remotely located from the vehicle.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the second vehicle electronic system is a point-of-interest navigation system.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one configurable input devices is one of a button, a switch and a dial.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the functionality of the at least one configurable input device is associated with the first vehicle electronic system when the location of the vehicle is within a predetermined distance from the location associated with the first vehicle electronic system.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the functionality of the at least one configurable input device is associated with the second vehicle electronic system when the location of the vehicle is outside a predetermined distance from the location associated with the first vehicle electronic system.

7. A method for providing user interface functionality based on a location of a vehicle, the vehicle including a first vehicle electronic system and a second vehicle electronic system, the method comprising:

receiving a vehicle location from a navigation data source;

determining whether the received location is associated with a location stored in a memory; and

changing a functionality of at least one configurable input device based on a determination whether the received location is associated with the stored location, wherein changing the functionality of the at least one configurable input device includes changing from controlling a first vehicle electronic system to controlling a second vehicle electronic system.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the second vehicle electronic system is at least one of a trainable transceiver and a system configured to transmit a radio frequency control signal for actuating a garage door opener remotely located from the vehicle.

9. A method according to claim 8, further including changing the functionality of at least one configurable input device back to controlling the first vehicle electronic system after determining that the location of the vehicle is no longer associated with the stored location.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein the first vehicle electronic system is a point-of-interest navigation system.

11. A method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one configurable input devices is one of a button, a switch and a dial.

12. A system for providing user interface functionality based on a location of a vehicle, the vehicle including a first vehicle electronic system comprising an RF transmitter and a second vehicle electronic system, the system comprising:

a user interface having at least one configurable input device, the user interface coupled to the first vehicle electronic system and the second vehicle electronic system;

a control circuit coupled to the user interface and configured to determine a functionality of the at least one configurable input device;

a navigation data source coupled to the control circuit and configured to provide location data for the vehicle; and

a memory coupled to the control circuit and the navigation data source, the memory configured to store location data associated with the first vehicle electronic system;

wherein the control circuit determines the functionality of the at least one configurable input device based on the location of the vehicle and the location associated with the first vehicle electronic system.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the first vehicle electronic system comprises at least one of a trainable transceiver and a system configured to transmit a radio frequency control signal for actuating a garage door opener remotely located from the vehicle.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein the second vehicle electronic system is a point-of-interest navigation system.

15. A system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one configurable input devices is one of a button, a switch and a dial.

16. A system according to claim 12, wherein the functionality of the at least one configurable input device is associated with the first vehicle electronic system when the location of the vehicle is within a predetermined distance from the location associated with the first vehicle electronic system.

17. A system according to claim 12, wherein the functionality of the at least one configurable input device is associated with the second vehicle electronic system when the location of the vehicle is outside a predetermined distance from the location associated with the first vehicle electronic system.

18. A system for mounting in a vehicle having a first vehicle electronic system and a second vehicle electronic system, the system comprising:

a user interface having at least one input device configurable to provide signals for the first vehicle electronic system and for the second vehicle electronic system; and

a control circuit configured to receive first location data representative of a location of the vehicle from a navigation data source, the control circuit further configured to compare the first location data to second location data associated with the first vehicle electronic system and third location data associated with the second vehicle electronic system and wherein the control circuit is configured to use the comparisons to configure the at least one input device to provide the signals to the first vehicle electronic system and the second vehicle electronic system.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first vehicle electronic system is configured to transmit a radio frequency control signal for actuating a garage door opener remotely located from the vehicle when the at least one input device receives input from a user and when the control circuit has configured the at least one configurable input device to provide signals to the first vehicle electronic system based on the comparisons.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the second electronic system is a point-of-interest system and wherein the user interface is a display screen;

and wherein the at least one input device is a touch screen portion of the display screen.